Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Prevalence And Dimensions Of Poetry Interventions To Enable Change And Transformation In Organizations, Elizabeth Kathleen Mcgraw

Theses and Dissertations

Today, organizations and their employees operate in times of increased complexity, ambiguity, and constant change. Traditional methods for enabling change and transformation are no longer sufficient to generate alignment and shared understanding to create adaptive ways of working. Organizations must identify new tools when engaged in change and transformation. Poetry, a time-honored practice, is an unconventional choice for organizational interventions. Still, it may be a solution for organizations seeking to unstick, reframe, and pivot quickly toward a new and shared reality. This study evaluated the practice and dimensions of poetry interventions used by change practitioners when enabling change and transformation …

Social Capital And Leadership Competencies Of Recent Kenyan Immigrant Leaders In The United States And Canada: Relational, Structural, And Cognitive Perception, Dorcas Cheruto Mworsho

Theses and Dissertations

Academic research on immigrant social capital indicates that the social capital gained from a country of origin is not easily transferable to a host country (Hopkins, 2020; Hou et al., 2018; Tegegne, 2015). The debate has gained recognition in the recent past as more developed countries continue to receive an increasing number of immigrants. Kenya is among the countries that continue to experience a global surge of professionals immigrating who have settled in North America. Research reveals that some known social connections within host countries are exploitative and detrimental to Kenyan immigrants who try to access meaningful leadership positions that …

Black Midwives For Black Mothers: Ameliorating Racial Disparities In The Quality Of Maternal Healthcare, Kimberly Navarro

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, maternal mortality represents a dire health crisis with a stark racial imbalance. Black women are two and a half to three times more likely to die from pregnancy and birth-related complications than their White counterparts. Racial disparities in maternal health can be explained by variations in the quality of maternal healthcare services that women tend to receive. Racial and ethnic minority women are more likely to receive inferior quality prenatal care (PNC), which brings to question the care model of traditional PNC and its adequacy in serving the healthcare needs of Black women. Since Black women …

Recovery At Work: Seeking Relief From Toxic Workplace Behavior Through The Adult Children Of Alcoholics And Dysfunctional Families Model, Matthew D. Devandry

Theses and Dissertations

The present study investigated whether the Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (ACA) 12-step recovery model might be relevant to reducing toxic workplace behavior. Seventeen participants in the ACA program were interviewed to answer what changes in work-life are experienced by those who have worked in the ACA program and what components of ACA do practitioners believe have been most influential in their work-life changes? Interviewees reported experiencing positive results in their work lives, categorized by internal, philosophical changes, changes in behavior regarding interpersonal issues, changes in behavior regarding issues of self, and changes in overall outcome. These findings …

Experiences And Perceptions Of Bilingual Spanish-English Latinx Clients And Bilingual Spanish-English Latinx Therapists In Psychotherapy: A Systematic Review, Irvin I. Navarrete

Theses and Dissertations

As the bilingual Spanish-English Latinx population in the United States increases, so will the need for culturally and linguistically competent mental health therapists. While past research has focused on providing culturally competent care, the role of language in the process of psychotherapy has received limited attention. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the existing literature on bilingual Spanish-English Latinx clients’ and bilingual Spanish-English Latinx therapists’ experiences and perceptions within a bilingual psychotherapy setting and identify recommendations to enhance language proficiency. A systematic review was conducted and identified nine studies for inclusion. Results highlight seven themes focusing on bilingual Spanish-English Latinx …

Representation And Underrepresentation: A Phenomenological Study Of Barriers Facing Female Leaders In The Contract Management Profession, Tiffany Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Theoretical literature and empirical research confirmed the contracting profession is male dominated. Although there has been progression in the total representation, women remain critically underrepresented in leadership roles, specifically, executive management within the contracting profession. The number of women holding C-suite titles such as, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operations Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Executive Vice President remain low. A democratic leadership view ceases to exist if there is a lack in representation, despite gender. An equitable distribution of organizational power between genders is imperative.

The primary focus of this qualitative study is to understand barriers faced …

Exploring The Intersection Of Self-Talk And Decision-Making, Chris M. Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the intersection of self-talk and decision-making. Leaders in today’s world face increasing volume and complexity of decisions. Using a phenomenological approach to understanding the experiences of people managers in the United States, this research conducted interviews to understand the role self-talk plays in a people manager’s decision-making processes and to what extent self-talk influences people managers to avoid making a decision. Findings suggest that self-talk is a foundational component of decision-making. A manager’s awareness of how to best leverage and manage self-talk may increase an organization’s capacity for strong decision-making.

Exploratory Case Study Of Teachers Finding Support From The Global Educator Facebook Group During The Emergency School Closures Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Maureen A. Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

The emergency school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic impacted students and teachers across the globe. This study explored how the Global Educator Collaborative Facebook group, with over 125,000 members, supported teachers as they adapted to distance learning instruction amid emergency school closures. Through the Facebook group, teachers built a community to share questions, challenges, and seek support from their peers. This study explored how teachers participated in the Facebook group between February 2020 and December 2021 and whether their participation represented Wenger’s criteria for a community of practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 1998). An exploratory case study design …

Immersion As A Lifeway: The Cultural Sustainment And Humanization Of Mandarin Dual Language Immersion Teachers, Helen Chan Hill

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. is growing in its recognition of the value of multilingualism, and is rapidly expanding educational programs, such as dual language immersion (DLI), to that end (Singleton et al., 2018). However, the historical socio-political, regulatory, and cultural contexts have led to a current climate that may not demonstrate equivalent value of its multilingual teachers (Flores & Rosa, 2015). With a concerning teacher shortage that is exacerbated for teachers of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (MacIntyre et al., 2019), it is critical to understand factors that impact the wellbeing and satisfaction of such teachers in the U.S. educational system. In …

The Path To Success In Corporate America For Ethnic Minorities And Underrepresented Groups, Tina Garrett-Ragland

Theses and Dissertations

Workforce diversity continues to expand in organizations across the United States and globally. However, organizations struggle to retain and maintain diverse representation in the workforce. The focus for organizations to ensure they have an established success model for underrepresented populations, specifically ethnic minorities, is a critical strategy for organizations seeking to maintain diverse workforce representation and cultures. Ethnic minorities face many challenges to success, access to opportunities, and the same workplace experiences as their non-ethnic peers (Cole & Salimath, 2013). There have been steps taken to address the challenges created due to the inequities faced by ethnic minorities and underrepresented …

Slava Ukraini: A Psychobiographical Case Study Of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’S Public Diplomacy Discourse, Amber Brittain-Hale

Theses and Dissertations

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's public diplomacy during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict was examined in this dissertation. Zelenskyy’s discourse emphasized his action-oriented traits, Ukrainian identity, and nationalism. The study employed LTA, and LIWC-22, for natural language processing analyses of Zelenskyy's public speeches and diplomatic discourse. Zelenskyy demonstrated agency, adaptability, collaboration, and positive language patterns, suggesting confidence and optimism, according to the data. In addition, the research emphasizes how domestic and international factors influence state behavior, as well as how political demands, cultural, historical, and political factors influence Zelenskyy's decision-making.

This dissertation sheds light on a global leader's psychobiographical characteristics, beliefs, and motivations during a …

Trust And Psychological Empowerment In Global Virtual Teams: Quantitative Ethnography Research, Yujung Seol

Theses and Dissertations

Although global virtual teams are becoming more commonplace because of their many benefits, they are also challenged by a lack of interpersonal and emotional trust between team members. Based on this problem, this study adopted a quantitative ethnographic methodology to explore team members' perceptions of the relationship between trust and psychological empowerment components, such as the meaning of work, competence, self-determination, and impact, in global virtual teams. In addition, this study examined how the team members' perceptions of trust and psychological empowerment differ based on their attributes. To achieve this research purpose, the researcher collected data via semi-structured interviews with …

An Examination Of Student’S Motivation To Learn In Higher Education: A Study Of Contributing Factors To Undergraduate Students’ Motivation, Aida Jafari

Theses and Dissertations

Motivation is a complicated concept and difficult to measure and study; nevertheless, it is a substantial factor in students’ performance that demands extra attention. Instructors across all grade levels and disciplines struggle to cultivate classroom environments that focus on student interactions and promote interest where high-quality work is produced (Middleton & Perks, 2014). Educators have been searching for new strategies to improve instruction and student learning, and they keep looking for new ways to increase student motivation (Middleton & Perks, 2014). Moreover, practical knowledge in the classroom depends on the instructor’s ability to stimulate the interest and motivation that brought …

Perceptions Of College/University Students On High School Science And Stem Courses, Brian Park

Theses and Dissertations

Over the years, the evolution of science along with technology, engineering, and mathematics has been noticeably evident while science education, on the other hand, has shown little development. The research study aimed to investigate future change initiative implementation in secondary science curricula. In addition, the purpose of the research was to learn and examine postsecondary students' perceptions of how well secondary science education prepared them for the postsecondary level plus for schools to utilize the feedback received from students to further improve the quality of science education. The data for the study were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 college/university …

(Re)Imagining Mindfulness In Workplace Settings: An Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Of Black, Indigenous, Person Of Color (Bipoc) Mindfulness Professionals, Bemi Fasalojo

Theses and Dissertations

Work and racial discrimination are common causes of stress for Americans (American Psychological Association, 2019). Stress is even more prominent among adults since the COVID pandemic, civil unrest, and social justice uprising that occurred in the summer of 2020. Businesses have responded to stress by incorporating mindfulness practices. As the concept of mindfulness gains popularity in the workplace, there is a need to understand how mindfulness implemented in workplace settings can be modified to integrate culture and diversity-related themes to cultivate inclusion for BIPOC employees. Few studies have examined culturally attuned mindfulness programs in the workplace. There is also limited …

Women Of Color In Higher Education Institutions: Strategies To Attain Administrative Leadership Positions, Oghenemano O. Evero

Theses and Dissertations

Race and gender continue to be contributing factors to the disparity and lack of representation that exists among higher-education leaders. This study examines the lived experience of women of color to identify the strategies they utilized to attain administrative leadership roles at a Higher Education Institution (HEI). Participants included women of color leaders with at least 5 years of experience in higher education and in a leadership role. Participants also had advanced degrees. Using a narrative inquiry design, the study involved semi structured interviews to gather data from the sample population. The seven (7) women of color HEIs administrative leaders …

Physical Intimate Partner Violence Of African American Women: Promising Practices And Pitfalls In Treatment, Melissa Erinn Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence is a serious health concern among African American women. It is estimated about 41% of African American women experience physical violence from an intimate partner. A number of risk factors, as well as cultural and contextual dynamics (e.g., gendered racism, low socioeconomic status, cultural norms, exposure to family violence, as well as cultural mistrust of the healthcare and legal systems), are associated with the high prevalence rate of African American women experiencing physical abuse. Due to the unique challenges that African American women survivors of partner violence often experience, there is a gap in the current literature …

A Review Of The Effects Of Mindfulness Meditation On Chronic Pain In Older Adults, Gregory H. Jacks

Theses and Dissertations

Pain is a biopsychosocial phenomenon, which draws from physiological responses as well as cultural and social context and mental states. Pain is most frequently treated through surgical and pharmacological interventions, which can be costly and time-consuming, especially when treating chronic pain. Older adults suffer from chronic pain at a higher rate than the rest of the population, and more accessible interventions are desperately needed to help manage the experience of chronic pain. Mindfulness meditation is increasingly being utilized for management of pain due to evidence of its effectiveness, cheaper cost, and ability to be practiced outside of medical facilities. Prior …

Workplace Gender Gap: Generational Differences In The Narrative Of Women In The Banking Industry, Carly S. Riehle

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study gathered stories from four generations of women in banking to observe how the gender gap has changed over time through their personal experiences and to determine if there is a new story that can be told about the closing of the gender gap for at least one industry. The study included 36 women from 15 different banks across most regions in the United States. The 60-minute interviews covered 20 questions. Participant answers were coded and analyzed, yielding several themes. The study found that all four generations of women in banking agree there have been substantial improvements to …

Childless African American Women Over 50 In The Usa: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Robbie Roshyl Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

In modern society, some African American women are choosing a career before accepting the traditional role of birthing a child or children at an early age and marriage is not always part of the equation. Women’s freedoms (i.e., equality, personal choice, sexuality) have increased since their early struggles for their rights as citizens and as women. Some are viewed as agents against the norm by some conservative-minded people by not having a child or children well into their adulthood, especially if they are over the age of 50. Research suggests that women without children are perceived negatively by others and …

Vocational Tertiary Education Of Young Adults In Kenya: Model Development, Kristina Marie Lux

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to create a model of tertiary vocational education in Kenya. Despite considerable progress in Kenya over the last 20 years, current education models, low attendance, and low academic proficiency levels preclude many vulnerable learners from becoming employable. Utilizing semi-structured interviews of eight Kenyan participants, this study explores the testable design principles necessary to create such a micro-trade model. Utilizing Epistemic Network Analysis (ENA), a quantitative ethnographic technique, to model the structure of connections in data, this study attempts to systematically identify a set of constructs, as they are recorded in interview codes, connected to …

Best Practices Utilized By School Counselors In Increasing Latino Male College Readiness, Robert Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to identify best practices incorporated by secondary school counselors in California high schools that promote, support, and increase college-going identity and foster a supportive college-going environment for Latino male students. The researcher used a phenomenological qualitative study to capture the best practices and strategies academic counselors utilize to overcome the challenges of increasing Latino male academic achievement and college readiness. The findings of this study suggest that practices such as building supportive and caring environments, developing a college-going culture, increasing college readiness opportunities for Latino males, and targeted support increase college readiness among Latino males. Recommendations from …

Shifting Institutional Paradigms To Ignite Organizational Equity Amongst African American Professionals, Michael Fountain

Theses and Dissertations

African Americans can become discontented with their jobs and even consider resigning due to workplace anxiety. This quantitative study among African American business professionals in the U.S. highlighted the critical factors that foster positive working environments and organizational equity for African American professionals. The researcher focused on increasing an organization's effectiveness through managing diversity, allowing employees to feel inclusivity, and being part of a team. As a result, there will be happier, satisfied, and committed workers, thereby increasing the level of knowledge in the workforce while reducing expenses. This study analyzed conflict management, cultural diversity, marginalized employee emotions, teamwork, and …

Alaska Native Corporations: Participation, Purpose, And Performance In For-Profit Indigenous Businesses, Kimberly E. Mcginnis

Theses and Dissertations

Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) were established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971 to extinguish Indigenous land claims in the state of Alaska, as well as to provide for the economic and social wellbeing of Alaska Natives. However, ANCs’ governance practices and performance record offer a mixed record of their ability to incorporate the voice of their Indigenous shareholders and to fulfill a broad mandate for economic and social wellbeing among Alaska Natives. This exploratory, sequential, mixed methods study examines the relationship between shareholder participation, purpose, and performance in ANCs. Synthesizing theories from multiple domains, this study clarifies …

The Criticality Of Mentorship On The Trajectory Of Imminent Black Female Leaders: A Phenomenological Narrative Inquiry, Jeanette E. Vaughn

Theses and Dissertations

As members of two minority groups, Black women are often required to overcome dueling obstacles in the workplace. Black women are the most underrepresented in leadership positions compared to other groups. For most Black women, the American dream is merely a glass-ceiling-laden reality. For Black women to ascend to the upper echelon of leadership positions, executives and organizations in various industries must alter how administration and operations best practices are conceived, executed, and monitored as they pertain to recognition and promotions. Mentoring helps to optimize professional potential, build skills, and enhance performance by assisting mentees in managing their learning to …

Academics And Athletics: A Phenomenological Study Of Self-Advocacy And Student Involvement In Black Student-Athletes With Disabilities, Trené L. Turner

Theses and Dissertations

Studies on Black male athletes and their educational experiences have been conducted for quite some time, whereas research on Black female athletes, despite its emergence, remains limited. Recent research on student-athletes focuses on the rise in socioeconomic status in relation to their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Hence, the focus on education while it continues to exist, NIL deals and its impact on the NCAA have become a topic of interest. The tenets of critical race theory will be examined to comprehend the relationship between these principles and the impact of NCAA and college policies on Black student athletes, and …

Schizophrenia, Expressed Emotion, And Relapse: A Systematic Review Across Cultures, Colin Meng

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this review was to systematically identify and evaluate quantitative research on familial expressed emotion (EE) in schizophrenia patients from different cultural backgrounds. This adds to the findings of previous reviews of EE by including data from cultural individualism vs. collectivism perspectives using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory. Using specific search criteria, 10 research papers were identified and evaluated. Findings indicated that the lowest percentage of high EE relatives were found in samples from countries associated with moderate individualism scores. A similar pattern was also found in high-critical comment (CC) relatives. Results of hostility and Emotional Over-involvement (EOI) are …

Best Practices Of Virtual Learning For K-5 Students, Bailey Hooper

Theses and Dissertations

With the increase in technology, virtual learning programs continue to grow in popularity within the United States. Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the kindergarten through fifth grade (K-5) virtual learning population has increased each year slowly since the late 1900s. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic millions of K-5 students were engaged in virtual learning. However, the academic outcomes and learning loss that resulted from the school shutdowns caused many misconceptions regarding the educational and social developments of K-5 students enrolled in virtual classes. Yet, studies consistently prove synchronous virtual instruction can be as effective as traditional face-to-face learning. The …

Sexual Abuse Of Children In China: Consequences And Han Culturally Appropriate Treatment, Na Du

Theses and Dissertations

Child sexual abuse in China has a lower prevalence than in Western countries. Due to its conservative culture, child sexual abuse has been a hidden topic, resulting in children suffering from mental health problems since there was no proper treatment or intervention. The objective of the current study was to explore the estimated prevalence of child sexual abuse in China, its long-and short-term psychological effects, and culturally appropriate treatment for those who experienced sexual abuse. The aim of this study is to inform the professionals with knowledge, skills, and techniques to treat those with mental health problems caused by sexual …

Reducing Hiv Transmission For African American And Latino Gay And Bisexual Men: An Integrative Systematic Review, Brian Andrew Griffith

Theses and Dissertations

Black and Latinx men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by HIV and have been for several years. It continues to be pervasive in both communities. Therefore, this review aims to examine the existing literature and succinctly discuss what has occurred in the fight to reduce HIV transmission rates for Black and Latino men. This review posed the following questions: (a) What are the unique challenges for Black and Latino gay and bisexual men in adherence and usage of PrEP medication? (b) What behaviors increase HIV transmission risk specific to Black and Latino gay and bisexual men? (c) …